Oil seal



July 23, 1946. H- Q ABELL 2,404,610

OIL SEAL Filed Jun 22, 1944.

INVEN TOR.

Arme/yay Patented July 23, 1946 f y rUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE oIL sEAL Henry Clark Abell, Interlaken, N. J. v

Application June 22, 1944, seriaiNo. Y541,490 (o1. 286-11) v This invention relates to new and useful improvements a seal.

More specifically, the 4invention proposes the construction of a seal, such as a ball or roller vbearing' oil or grease seal, for sealing the space between a shaft and a housing against the loss of 'lubricant without the sealing taking place at either the shaft or the housing.

Still further it is proposed to provide a seal as aforesaid, having a part adapted to be secured to a shaft, a part adapted to be secured to a housing or the like, and sealing means between the parts.

'Still further it is proposed 'to provide a seal as aforesaid in which the part secured to the shaft has a circular tongue and groove connection with the part secured to the housing.

Still further it is proposed to provide a seal as' aforesaid provided withsealing' material in engagement with the sides and edge of the circulartongue. Y

For further 'comprehensionlof the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference lwill Abe had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth. o Y,

VIn the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

lis a section on the line I-I of Fig. 2 of a seal constructed in accordance with this invention, a shaft, a housing and a ball bearing being vshown in association therewith.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the seal shown in Fig. 1, viewed from the right thereof,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. l of a seal constructed in accordance with a modification -of this invention.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevational view of a sealing disc of the seal of Fig. i3'.

The seal of the present invention is especially adapted for .useA as a ball or roller bearing oil or grease retainer between a shaft and a housing, one or both of which may be rotatable, and it will be so treated, for simplicity, in the following description. However, it will be undervstood that the seal has general application to rotary structures for providing a retainer against the leakage of lubricant or other vfluid from a space betweenrotary parts.

lfteferring to Fig. 1, it will Abe seen that the seal of the present invention is disposed between -a `shaft land a housing II, eithermor both of .W'hichmay be rotatable. A ball bearingis also disposed between the shaft and the housing adjacent the seal. The seal and the ball 'bearing are of the *same outside diameter. The ball bearing includes an inner raceway I'3 pressed 'on the shaft I0, a two-part outer raceway I4 pressed in the housing I'I, the two parts of the raceway III Vbeing secured together by tap "screws I5, and balls 4IS disposed between the raceway's. Ball bearing I2 may mount the housing on the shaft or the shaft in the housing, Vas desired. For instance, the shaft I 0 might be the rotatable rear axle of an automobile and the housing I'I might be the stationary axle .housing of the automobile. I

The seal, according to this invention, comprises an oriced member I'I rigidly secured to the shaft I0 by being pressed thereon. 'Member Il'IA has a center radial tongue I8, a shoulder rI'l9 at 'each side of the'tongue, each shoulder VI9 being iinclined outwardly from the tongue, and a :shoulder 20 at the outer side of each shoulder I9. Member II is'circular and consequently the tongue and shoulders are `circular also. Shoulders 20 lare of shorter radius than shoulders I9 vand shoulders I9 areof shorter radius than tongue A casing 2I is rigidly secured in the housing I I by being pressed therein. Casing 2I has a circular wall `22, concentric and in engagement with the inner face of the housing, and an orificed wall 23 at right, angles to wall 22 and in -line with one of the shoulders 20 vwhich is disposed in the orice of wall 23 with only working clearance therebetween. Wall 22 at its margin remote from the `wall 23 is provided with an internalgroove 24 for a split ring 25 which re` tains the following circular and parallel members: a 'synthetic rubber washer 26 parallel `to and in engagement with the wall 23, -engaging at 'its outer circumference the wall 22 and being spaced at its inner circumference from the adjacent shoulders I9 and 20; 'a sealing discv 21 in engagement with the washer 26 andthe wall and extending radially inward from the washer 26 and having a flange 28 extendingvfrom 'its inner circumference toward tongue I8, which it engages with a sliding t; a thick felt lubricating washer 29 engaging wall 22 at its outer circum#` ference, the outer circumference of tongue I8 at f yits inner circumference, `and disc 21 at one of its sides.

The rubber washer 26 acts as a spring forcing the disc 21 against the washer 29 and against the tongue I8.

grease contained V,in the 'seal;, ;another..1disc .,530

As it is made of syn-' thetic rubber, itis not affected by the:oil vor lows: t The roller bearing is lubricated with oil or grease, as desired. For instance, it may be lubriv1gaged by theiiange 3|. i, Y Vexcess of oil from passing between it and the Jtongue,

l it and the tongue.

which is similar to disc 21 but has a flange 3l oppositely disposed from flange 28 so that it extends toward flange 28. Disc 30 engages the other side of washer 29 and its ange engages the tongue I8 with a sliding t; a disc plate pressure spring 32 engaging the disc 30 and forcing it against the washer 29 and the tongue I8.` Spring v32 is shaped like awasher but has an outer Yportieri 33 and an offset inner Portion 34 connected 'by a .reversely curved lportion 35 which gives it a lateral spring action when it is forced against the disc 30.

l The pressure plate or arwasher 36 is disposed y between the split ring 25 and the spring 32. The rubber washer 26 and the spring 32 maintain all of the parts of the seal in tight pressure t. Split ring 25 has -a hole 38 adjacent each side of its split for the insertion of a tool (not shown) to Compress the split right for insertion and removal from the groove 24.

Theoperation of this form of device is as fol;-

cated'with oil contained in housing II at the side of the .ball-bearingremote from the seal. The seal prevents the oil from'passing out of the housing I I.V As the ball bearing has parts pressed lon thev shaft and in the housing, the oil only passes through the ball bearing between the racefways. As `casing k2| is pressed in the housing and as member I1 is pressed on the shaft, the 3oil cannot escape between these parts. Oil can pass between the washer 36 and the adjacent shoulderfzdue to the cle-arance therebetween. This oil lubricates thesideof the tongueV I8 en- Flange 3| prevents any However, it permits enough oil to pass therethrough to* lubricateits -engagement with lthe, tonguesothat the flange does not weark the ,tongue This oilvsoaks into the felt washer 2S 1which,therefore acts as a lubricantreservoir for oil, always maintaining a certain amount of oil for lubricating the parts of the seal rotatably engaging the member II.

`Cates the Yengagement of the flange 28 tongue so that wear does notV result. Flange 23 prevents. any excessive oilA from passing between Y Y i Thus the seal effectively prel Some of this oil lubriwith the vents any material escape of oil from the housing `II, only enough oil being permitted to pass l throughthe seal up therein.

to lubricate the seal and be used The seal is employed at atmospheric pressure,

`no other pressure being needed to eifectrsealing l, by any of the parts., vseal of the present invention.` It is contemplated 1 that the seal maybe made of various diameters l corresponding ltostandard diameters, of ball and 1 roller bearings, so that itwill fit in the housings containing same. While specific materials have fbeen stated, such as the synthetic rubber washer T26 and the felt 'washer-29,. it will be understood This `isan advantage of the Vthat this is-'by way of example ,only and other 1 sui-table materials may be employedfif desired.

the modification of theinventionshown in Figs. '3 and 4, zthe construction .of the. seal .is 1 similar to that previouslydescribed except the shoulders I9l are. not inclined,'and vdo not extend kbeyond the discs 2l and 3G', 'the space between i. the synthetic rubber-washer '26,' andthe adjffi cent shoulder 2'iis filled with a felt washerr, "the' felt washerZQ'does. .not engage the tongue I8 andthe flanges 28 and 3|' areprovided-each with a groove 39 in which is disposed a felt seal- Ving washer in engagement with the adjacent Figs. l and 2, except that the felt washers 38 and 4*jfurther prevent passage of ,oil or grease passed the seal.v

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patentsjis: V 1

l. A lubricant seal comprisinga circular member having a central orifice forreceivingashaft and a radial tongue, a casing havingY a ,central orice in which said member is disposed,.saidicas; ing being adapted to be secured in a housing, said casing having a circumferential wall concentric with said member orifice and another wall parallel to and spaced'from said tongue, the outer circumference of said tongue beingsp'aced from said casing circumferential wall, a lubricating washer in said spacebetween said tongue yand said casing circumferential wall, said washerfbeing wider than said tongue, a sealing discin engagement with each side of said lubricating washer and each disc havinga flange` concentric with and engaging the adjacent side of said tongue, an

` elastic resilient and massive rubberY washer' beface of the other of said sealing discs, and means retaining said plate spring, said plate `spring and said rubber washer Yexerting forces urgingl said Ysealing discs against said lubricating washer and said tongue. Y 1

y 2. Allibriclant' seal comprising. a member hav- Ying a central orice for receivinga shaft and` a radial tongue, a casing having a central orice 1n which said memberjis disposed, said casing being adapted to be securedfin-ahousingsaid casing having a circumferential wallY1con'c'entricV With said member oriiice` and another A`wall parallel to and spaced from said tongue, the outer circumference of saidtongue beingY spaced from said casing circumferential walLa felt wasl'ierv in said space'between and engaging said tongue and said casing circumferential'wall, a sealing'disc in engagement with each'rside ofV said'washe'r and With each side of said tongue, an' elastie'massive rubber washer .between said casing other wall and the adjacent sealingdisc, 'aplate spring engaging the outer face yof the other of said sealing discs, and split rin'gmeans retaining said plate spring, said plate spring and said Vrubber washerexertl ing' forces urging said sealing-discsr-against said -orice and anotherA wall Yparallel to'andispavced from said tongue, the outer circumference of said tongue beingspaced fromsaidbasing circumferentialwall; a felt lubricating-washer in" said space between said tongue and said casing circumferential wall, said Washer being wider than said tongue and engaging said tongue and said casing, a sealing disc in engagement with each side of said lubricating washeneach of said discs having a iiange concentric with and engaging said tongue, an elastic resilient and massive synthetic rubber washer between said casing other wall and the adjacent sealing disc, a plate spring engaging the outer face of the other of said sealing discs, a pressure plate engaging the outer face of said plate spring, and a split ring retaining said pressure plate said plate spring and said rubber washer exerting forces urging said sealing discs against said lubricating washer and said tongue.

4. In combination, a housing, a shaft, antifriction bearings between said housing and said shaft, a circular member secured on said shaft and having a radial tongue, a casing having a central orifice in which said member is disposed, said casing being secured in said housing, said casing having a circumferential wall concentric with said member and another wall parallel to and spaced from said tongue, the outer circumference of said tongue being spaced from said casing circumferential wall, a washer between said tongue and said casing circumferential wall, a sealing disc in engagement with each side of said washer and with each side of said tongue, an elastic resilient and massive rubber washer between said casing other wall and the adjacent sealing disc, a

plate spring engaging the outer face of the other of said sealing discs, and means retaining said plate spring, said plate spring and said rubber washer exerting forces urging said sealing discs against said tongue.

5. A lubricant seal comprising a member having a central orice for receiving a shaft or the like and a radial tongue, a casing having a central orifice in which said member is disposed, said casing being adapted to be secured in a housing or the like, said casing having a circumferential wall concentric with said member orifice and another wall parallel to and spaced from said tongue, the outer circumference of said tongue being spaced from said casing circumferential wall, a lubricating washer disposed in said space between said tongue and said easing circumferential wall, a sealing disc in engagement with each side of said lubricating. washer, each of said discs having a flange concentric with and extending toward said tongue, each of said flanges having a circular groove, a felt washer in each of said grooves each in engagement with a side of said tongue, a resilient rubber washer between said casing other wall and the adjacent sealing disc, a plate spring engaging the outer face of the other of said sealing discs, and means retaining said plate spring, said plate spring and said rubber washer exerting forces urging said sealing discs against said lubricating washer and said tongue.

6. LA lubricant seal comprising a member having a hub provided with a central orifice for receiving a shaft or the like and a radial tongue extending from said hub, a casing having a cen-v tral orifice in which said member is disposed, said casing. being adapted to be secured in a housing, said casing having a circumferential wall concentric with said member oriiice and another wall parallel to and spaced from said tongue, the

outer circumference of said tongue being spaced from said casing circumferential wall, a, lubricating washer disposed in said space between said tongue and said casing'circumferential wall, a sealing disc in engagement with each side of said lubricating washer and with each side of said tongue, a resilient rubber washer between said casing other wall and the adjacent sealing disc and spaced from said hub, a felt washer disposed in said space between said rubber washer and said hub, a plate spring engaging the outer face of the other of said sealing discs, and means retaining said plate spring, said plate spring and said rubber washer exerting forces urging said sealing discs against said lubricating washer and said tongue,

HENRY CLARK ABELL. 

